RTX’s Pratt & Whitney is set to establish a European Technology and Innovation Center in Houten, Netherlands.
Sustainable Aviation Technology
The new development facility will be located alongside Collins Aerospace’s European Innovation Hub and will focus on energy-efficient and sustainable aviation technologies. Pratt & Whitney plans to begin operations within a few months, initially with a core team that it intends to expand by recruiting engineering talent from the region.
Frank Preli, vice president for Propulsion & Materials Technologies at Pratt & Whitney, said that the defense manufacturer anticipates the new center will enhance collaboration with both the Dutch and the broader European aerospace technology sector.
“A team of Pratt & Whitney innovators based at the ETIC will contribute to the development of cutting-edge technologies for achieving greater propulsion efficiency and reduced emissions in future aircraft, whether powered by conventional or alternative aviation fuels, including hydrogen,” he added.
Dutch Aerospace Innovation
Tjerk Opmeer, deputy director general for business and innovation at the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, expressed that the government is committed to initiatives that advance aviation technology research in the Netherlands. “This center has the possibility to enhance our shared vision for accelerating sustainable aviation through innovation and international collaboration,” he said.
The establishment of ETIC builds on RTX’s growing engagement with the Dutch aerospace industry, including a recently signed memorandum of understanding between Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney and the Netherlands Aerospace Group. This MOU aims to establish a framework for research collaborations on sustainable aviation, covering areas such as advanced manufacturing processes, propulsion technologies, aircraft electrification, energy management and environmental studies.